The Raider Read Online Free PDF Page B

Marianna, the oldest of the Montgomery children, a spinster who either because of her size or her domineering manner had never had a husband, had been given the responsibility of taking care of her invalid father and the big, rambling house. But when the new customs officer, John Pitman, had arrived and begun to pursue her, Marianna had forgotten about everything else. Of course half the town had tried to explain to her that the Englishman wanted her father’s wealth, but Marianna had arrogantly refused to listen to them. It didn’t take Marianna two weeks after the wedding to realize the people were right and now she carried the burden of knowledge that she was responsible for many of Warbrooke’s problems. She turned over her household duties to Eleanor and now spent most of her time in her room completing one piece of embroidery after another. If she could not cure the disease she had caused, she planned to disassociate herself from it.
    â€œI don’t think we should discuss this now.” Eleanor gave a meaningful look to the children who were studiously looking into their bowls of stew, but were truthfully listening so intently that their ears were beginning to wiggle.
    â€œMr. Montgomery said that Mrs. Montgomery had always spoiled her youngest son and that he’d warned her that something like this would happen,” Nathaniel said. “I guess he meant Mr. Alex’s clothes and how fat he is. Miss Marianna cried a lot. Eleanor, who is that man Nicholas?”
    Eleanor glared at the young Taggert. “Nathaniel, how many times have I told you not to eavesdrop? And you were supposed to be taking care of Sally.”
    â€œI went, too,” Sally said. “We hid in the—”
    Nathaniel put his hand over his little sister’s mouth. “I was taking care of her, but I did want to know. Who is the man Nicholas?”
    â€œHe’s Alex’s bondsman, I assume,” Eleanor said, “and don’t you try to change the subject. I’ve told you a hundred times—”
    â€œIsn’t there an apple pie around here somewhere?” Jessica asked. “I’ve heard all I can bear about Alexander Montgomery. He’s a fat old whale that’s been beached and he’s at last showing his true colors. Nate, tomorrow I want you to take a bag down into the cove and gather lobsters.”
    â€œNot again,” he groaned.
    â€œAnd you, Henry,” she said to the twelve-year-old, “go see if the blackberries are out yet, and you’ll have to take Sam with you. Philip and Israel, you’ll have to go with me tomorrow while I make a lumber run down the coast.”
    â€œLumber?” Eleanor said. “Do you think you should? The Mary Catherine can’t handle that much weight.”
    Jessica stiffened her back as she always did when someone said something about her boat. It wasn’t much and maybe it was true what Jahleel Simpson had said, “The Mary Catherine can float but she sure don’t like to,” but it was her boat, the only thing her father had given her except brothers and sisters to take care of and she was proud of it. “We can sail it and, besides, we need the money. Someone has to pay for these apples.”
    Eleanor looked down at her bowl that now contained a slice of apple pie. Sometimes she “borrowed” food from Sayer Montgomery’s kitchen. Not often and not very much and she always paid it back, but she felt terrible about it just the same. If Sayer or Marianna had thought of it, she was sure that they would have told her to take what leftovers she needed, but Sayer was too busy feeling sorry for himself and Marianna was too busy crying that she’d brought all the evils of the world onto the town’s shoulders when she’d married the customs officer to think of anyone else.
    Two-year-old Samuel decided to wrap his sticky spoon in his sister Molly’s hair and pull. That stopped all